afferent

Afferent refers to something that carries information or substances toward a central point. In biology and physiology, it often refers to vessels, nerves, or pathways that carry signals or fluid toward a particular organ or area. For example, veins are afferent vessels because they carry deoxygenated blood from the body toward the heart.

The opposite term is efferent, which refers to carrying information or substances away from a central point. For instance, arteries are efferent vessels because they carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.